tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92076118648484496282016-11-19T04:44:03.762-08:00pobcpobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.comBlogger282125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207611864848449628.post-4985236232141341252015-08-09T23:12:00.001-07:002015-08-09T23:12:04.460-07:00NEW SITE COMING SOONHi all, it's been a while since I last posted. I'm working on a new site. I hope to have it ready in the next few weeks. You can find new items on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pooroldbaseballcards" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> and you can continue to access this site at pooroldbaseballcards.blogspot.com. I'll let everyone know when the new site is ready. Thanks for being patient.pobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207611864848449628.post-88628948834347073082015-04-12T22:56:00.001-07:002015-04-12T23:09:29.065-07:001969 Topps Reggie Jackson<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NDgaurbtjTo/VStWIRGq5cI/AAAAAAAAC6I/yVV-5IvCj7A/s1600/Scan-150412-0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NDgaurbtjTo/VStWIRGq5cI/AAAAAAAAC6I/yVV-5IvCj7A/s1600/Scan-150412-0001.jpg" height="320" width="234" /></a></div>On May 20, 2012, another sports card auction closed. Lot #71, a PSA 10 1969 Topps Reggie Jackson, sold for $115,242.<br /><br />On April 2, 2015, an eBay auction closed. A 1969 Topps Reggie Jackson sold for $30.<br /><br />The same card with two vastly different price points.<br /><br />The first was once owned by former major leaguer Dmitri Young. As it turns out, he has one of the best graded rookie card collections around. His niche is high-end, highly-graded superstars.<br /><br />The other card is owned by me, I consider my poor old baseball card collection to be one of the (poorest) around. My niche is low-end, non-graded superstars.<br /><br />I think I got the better deal. pobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207611864848449628.post-53713310656515952432015-04-02T22:08:00.000-07:002015-04-02T22:08:50.261-07:001927 W560 Simmons, Cuyler, Walberg, Sewell, Clark, Rhem<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uEtXCdpDOA4/VR4dNSH5ubI/AAAAAAAAC5w/0u8UDsFhEfg/s1600/Scan-150402-0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uEtXCdpDOA4/VR4dNSH5ubI/AAAAAAAAC5w/0u8UDsFhEfg/s1600/Scan-150402-0001.jpg" height="320" width="308" /></a></div>Today's arrival is this sweet lot of strip cards from 1927. I have plenty of old strip cards but these are the first from this playing card-like set. How cool are these?<br /><br />I was first intrigued by the two hall-of-famers: Al Simmons and Kiki Cuyler. But as I inspected the cards, my eye kept going to (top, left) Rube Walberg. How could you not be attracted to that figure with the ten-gallon hat.<br /><br />Walberg was an interesting player. His overall 155-141 record as a pitcher with the Giants, A's and Red Sox is incredibly punctuated with 140 complete games.<br /><br />That's crazy!<br /><br />Walberg is also known as the hurler that gave up 17 homers to Babe Ruth, more than any other pitcher. He also hit four home runs of his own.pobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207611864848449628.post-46512006757573000832015-03-09T22:01:00.001-07:002015-03-09T22:02:20.618-07:001959 Topps Yogi Berra<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MBWM_kb6rmo/VP50Ix_phoI/AAAAAAAAC5Y/3ToYjNu7vH4/s1600/59BERRA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MBWM_kb6rmo/VP50Ix_phoI/AAAAAAAAC5Y/3ToYjNu7vH4/s1600/59BERRA.jpg" height="280" width="400" /></a></div>You rarely hear Yogi Berra's name associated with the game's greatest.<br /><br />Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Roberto Clemente seem to be in the conversation. But what about Yogi?<br /><br />A few stats from Wikipedia:<br /><ul><li>18× <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Baseball_All-Star_Game" title="Major League Baseball All-Star Game">All-Star</a> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Major_League_Baseball_All-Star_Game" title="1948 Major League Baseball All-Star Game">1948</a>–<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1961_Major_League_Baseball_All-Star_Game_%28second_game%29" title="1961 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (second game)">1961²</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1962_Major_League_Baseball_All-Star_Game_%28second_game%29" title="1962 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (second game)">1962²</a>)</li><li>13× <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Series" title="World Series">World Series</a> champion (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1947_World_Series" title="1947 World Series">1947</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1949_World_Series" title="1949 World Series">1949</a>–<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953_World_Series" title="1953 World Series">1953</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1956_World_Series" title="1956 World Series">1956</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1958_World_Series" title="1958 World Series">1958</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1961_World_Series" title="1961 World Series">1961</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1962_World_Series" title="1962 World Series">1962</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1969_World_Series" title="1969 World Series">1969</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1977_World_Series" title="1977 World Series">1977</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1978_World_Series" title="1978 World Series">1978</a>)</li><li>3× <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AL_MVP" title="AL MVP">AL MVP</a> (1951, 1954, 1955)</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Yankees#Retired_numbers" title="New York Yankees">New York Yankees #8</a> retired</li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_League_Baseball_All-Century_Team" title="Major League Baseball All-Century Team">Major League Baseball All-Century Team</a></li></ul>Some consider Yogi Berra the greatest catcher ever.<br /><br />There's no doubt Yogi Berra should be a part of the conversation. What do you think?pobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207611864848449628.post-13671556966189230062015-01-28T22:45:00.000-08:002015-01-28T22:45:56.504-08:001952 Topps Dom DiMaggio<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p0Rxex0TR2I/VMnTaUTSBNI/AAAAAAAAC4k/4vFoRCiQRes/s1600/Scan-150128-0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-p0Rxex0TR2I/VMnTaUTSBNI/AAAAAAAAC4k/4vFoRCiQRes/s1600/Scan-150128-0001.jpg" height="320" width="225" /></a></div>During his brother Joe's 56-game hitting streak, bandleader Les Brown immortalized the feat with a popular song.<br /><br />"Joltin' Joe DiMaggio" became a popular hit – get it?<br /><br />You can her the song here. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvOIEwvhG5g" target="_blank">Joltin' Joe DiMaggio</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>He started baseball's famous streak<br />That's got us all aglow<br />He's just a man and not a freak,<br />Joltin' Joe DiMaggio.</i></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Not to be outdone, the folks in Boston had their own refrain:&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Who hits the ball and makes it go?</span></span></i> <i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dominic DiMaggio.</span></span></i> <i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Who runs the bases fast, not slow?</span></span></i> <i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dominic DiMaggio.</span></span></i> <i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Who’s better than his brother Joe?</span></span></i> <i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dominic DiMaggio.</span></span></i> <i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But when it comes to gettin’ dough,</span></span></i> <i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They give it all to brother Joe.</span></span></i><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">It's good to know the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry was alive, and well, even in 1941.</span></span>pobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207611864848449628.post-16234321720938938982015-01-27T22:33:00.002-08:002015-01-27T22:33:30.036-08:001968 Topps Game Mickey Mantle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nrA-IvvBmII/VMh-D6R1eHI/AAAAAAAAC4U/HONjm4o-xPs/s1600/Scan-150127-0001%2Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nrA-IvvBmII/VMh-D6R1eHI/AAAAAAAAC4U/HONjm4o-xPs/s1600/Scan-150127-0001%2Bcopy.jpg" height="287" width="400" /></a></div>When it comes to Poor Old baseball Cards, this thing is awesome.<br /><br />But when it comes to the baseball collecting world, this card gets no love. Just like those leader and team cards, these inserts are considered lesser cards. No stats. No team logo. Not even a team name. This card doesn't seem to have much going for it. Except ...<br /><br />It's Mickey Mantle.<br /><br />And in the baseball card world, he's king. His cards are far more popular than any other player of the modern vintage era (1952-1980).&nbsp; Was he the greatest player of the time?&nbsp; Willie Mays wouldn't think so. Yet Mantle out-values Mays every time. <br /><br />Another thing this card has going for it is it's price. You can easily get one of these cards for under $20. Maybe even $10 if you are persistent.<br /><br />Ten dollars for an original Mickey Mantle from his playing days is a great deal, Poor Old Baseball Card or not.pobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207611864848449628.post-71833054024017498682015-01-25T10:34:00.000-08:002015-01-25T10:34:36.668-08:001923 W515-1 Bill Cunningham<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LYI-IM5eCV4/VMUy3dDlUFI/AAAAAAAAC4E/WFrKZEI_87Y/s1600/Scan-150125-0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LYI-IM5eCV4/VMUy3dDlUFI/AAAAAAAAC4E/WFrKZEI_87Y/s1600/Scan-150125-0001.jpg" height="311" width="400" /></a></div>I picked up these two strip cards this week for a total cost of $7. A bargain in my book. But when it came to deciding which to post, I had trouble selecting just one. Usually I'd choose the poorer of the two. Each have their qualities. I decided to post both.<br /><br />Bill Cunningham was one of those players who was obviously good enough to warrant a baseball card. But when looking up his bio, I couldn't find much.<br /><br />Sure, the basics are available: Throws right, bats right, plays outfield. A member of the New York Giants and Boston Braves. We know his birth and death dates, his stats and the fact he was a member of the Giants' world championship team in 1922. We know he was traded to the Braves in 1923 along with Dave Bancroft and Casey Stengel for Joe Oeschger and Billy Southworth.<br /><br />That's about all I could find. No info on his life after baseball. No funny stories. Not even an obituary.<br /><br />But he does have a few baseball cards. A lasting legacy for a man who played the game he loved.pobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207611864848449628.post-60978278281684681162015-01-24T13:41:00.000-08:002015-01-24T13:41:14.729-08:001969 Topps Ernie Banks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m80frP-z8nw/VMQKpXtl0eI/AAAAAAAAC30/fY4xPfbCvK0/s1600/Scan-150124-0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m80frP-z8nw/VMQKpXtl0eI/AAAAAAAAC30/fY4xPfbCvK0/s1600/Scan-150124-0001.jpg" height="400" width="288" /></a></div>Ernie Banks died yesterday.<br /><br />As a kid, I determined that the best baseball players ever were those that topped the home run list.<br /><br />And for the longest time, Ernie Banks was near the top tied at 512 with Eddie Mathews.<br /><br />When I was 8, I remember being out with my dad and hearing all about Ernie Banks on the radio as he was about to be enshrined in Cooperstown.<br /><br />When I was barely a teen, I remember seeing one of his cards in the 25-cent bin of my local baseball card shop. I bought it.<br /><br />I never met Ernie Banks. I never saw him play. But I knew that, along with being a superstar player, he was a superstar of a person: an attitude towards the game equal to his playing ability.<br /><br />RIP 'Mr. Cub." RIP Ernie Banks.pobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207611864848449628.post-79739180949916979862015-01-01T23:07:00.002-08:002015-01-01T23:08:58.764-08:001952 Topps Look 'n See Babe Ruth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LsfH1AapGLs/VKYzvuWiv_I/AAAAAAAAC3g/x9WzkiD9tO4/s1600/RUTHlooksee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LsfH1AapGLs/VKYzvuWiv_I/AAAAAAAAC3g/x9WzkiD9tO4/s1600/RUTHlooksee.jpg" height="281" width="400" /></a></div>It's the beginning of a new year and I've ignored my little blog for too long. So while combing through my recent purchases, I felt like I needed to post something special – something you don't see everyday.<br /><br />I hope this Babe Ruth fits the bill.<br /><br />This is the only "baseball card" in the 1952 Look 'n See set. Though Ruth may be the most popular card of the 135-cards made of famous figures, it's not the most valuable. That honor goes to the Dutch painter Rembrandt. Go figure.<br /><br />Rembrandt: no thanks; Babe Ruth: <i>awesome</i>.<br /><br />As a collector of poor old baseball cards, I've recently read several articles on how baseball cards are worthless. The reference was to all those cards made in the 1990s. You know, the ones that are probably in the back of your friends' closets. The ones that were supposed to fund college educations and retirements. They didn't, they won't.<br /><br />The truth: they are worthless. I got rid of mine years ago at a garage sale for pennies. They're not worth the space they take up in your home.<br /><br />But the cards that do hold their value are those old cards (pre-1980 in my opinion) that your mother threw away. The ones your dad and granddad had before they met their demise in the local landfill.<br /><br />Supply and demand: There are far fewer of these cards than the glut of those cards in the 1980-90s. Did mom or grandma help diminish supplies by dumping them? Probably. Did that contribute to their worth? Maybe.<br /><br />But so did the carefree attitude we had for them: Rubber bands, thumbtacks and backs of jean pockets.<br /><br />Sometimes I wonder what people think when I tell them I collect baseball cards. I wonder if they think I have stacks of cards in boxes in my closet waiting to fund my retirement.<br /><br />The answer is, I do. But its not the cards they're thinking of. No Derek Jeters. No Clayton Kershaws. Nothing newer than 1980. My cards look more like the one above. Poor. Old. And hopefully, not worthless.pobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207611864848449628.post-23609611636491175992014-11-15T13:44:00.000-08:002014-11-15T13:45:19.310-08:001952 Topps Joe Garagiola<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dadSK7EeGcg/VGfEsgBI8UI/AAAAAAAAC3M/5gO99_j6VlU/s1600/garagiolaFB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dadSK7EeGcg/VGfEsgBI8UI/AAAAAAAAC3M/5gO99_j6VlU/s1600/garagiolaFB.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></a></div>The 1952 Topps design is considered by most to be the best. And when it comes to individual cards, this Joe Garagiola ranks right up there too.<br /><br />My memories of Garagiola are not as a player but as an announcer with the NBC game of the week. I remember Garagiola and Tony Kubek and Vin Scully and Bob Costas. As a kid, I would have to tune into the Saturday game to get my baseball fix. There was no ESPN and my local team was not on T.V.<br /><br />Garagiola was a good catcher who was considered a great prospect. He grew up on the same street at another catcher — Yogi Berra. Of his catching abilities, Garagiola once said: "Not only was I not the best catcher in the Major Leagues, I wasn't even the best catcher on my street."pobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207611864848449628.post-539018497065684712014-11-08T11:02:00.000-08:002014-11-08T11:02:37.876-08:001948 Bowman Bill McCahan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GN57_XXj_xU/VF5jUuCOYBI/AAAAAAAAC28/GWmWcS24pBg/s1600/48bowman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GN57_XXj_xU/VF5jUuCOYBI/AAAAAAAAC28/GWmWcS24pBg/s400/48bowman.jpg" height="245" width="400" />&nbsp;</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What can I say? This poor old baseball card was well loved.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">McCahan was a two-sport athlete playing both baseball and professional basketball — a member of the Syracuse Nationals of the National Basketball League.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As a baseball player, he threw a no-hitter in his rookie season of 1947 against the Washington Senators. A second-inning throwing error kept him from the perfect game.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A few observations about this card:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Bill McCahan is not exactly a household name. How did this card survive? I mean, when the card got to a certain point, why wasn't it just tossed in the garbage?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How did it get so worn? My guess is it lived in the back pocket of it's first owner. Or, maybe it was kept in his shoe for safekeeping.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And finally, who would want this old piece of cardboard? The answer: me. And I love it.</div>pobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207611864848449628.post-86653708147386832302014-11-01T11:23:00.004-07:002014-11-01T11:23:49.669-07:001970 Topps Jerry McNertney<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2IZ3qgf9oNU/VFUgyWylUfI/AAAAAAAAC0E/WynG30WvDaE/s1600/70mcnertney.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2IZ3qgf9oNU/VFUgyWylUfI/AAAAAAAAC0E/WynG30WvDaE/s1600/70mcnertney.png" height="272" width="400" /></a></div><br />Choosing which cards I post is sometimes difficult.<br /><br />If you're a regular reader of this blog, you've probably come to realize I'm partial to the older cards. The older and poorer the better.<br /><br />So when I came across this 1970 Topps card, I had reservations. It's not of a notable player. It's not particularly rare. It's not valuable. It's got it's share of creases and bends, put I've posted much worse.<br /><br />The thing is <i>does</i> have going for it is the team: Seattle Pilots. Check out that uniform and cap.<br /><br />The Pilots were born in 1969 and by 1970 had already vacated the Pacific Northwest to become the Milwaukee Brewers.<br /><br />New owner Bud Selig didn't get final approval to move the team until only a few days before the 1970 season was scheduled to begin. He had intended to change the team's identity but was left with the old Seattle uniforms and colors.<br /><br />Milwaukee never did change its colors. Though a different shading, the blue and gold remain. Thanks to the Seattle Pilots.pobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207611864848449628.post-85607563733690921292014-10-29T22:47:00.002-07:002014-10-29T22:49:56.190-07:001960 Topps Warren Spahn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mh6HfQP-zqU/VFHLhWMviSI/AAAAAAAACzs/e2VyP1h7hUw/s1600/60spahn.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mh6HfQP-zqU/VFHLhWMviSI/AAAAAAAACzs/e2VyP1h7hUw/s1600/60spahn.png" height="640" width="440" /></a></div><br />I learned something new today. Warren Spahn hit 35 homers in his career —ranking him third behind Wes Ferrell (38) and Bob Lemon (37) for pitchers all time.<br /><br />He was around a long time, playing 21 seasons and acquiring 363 wins. His cards are readily available and relatively affordable.<br /><br />And I've got my share.<br /><br />I must have more poor old Warren Spahn's than any other player. And this card does not disappoint. Take a look: creased, rounded corners, scuffed, pen marks, glued to a scrapbook and glasses drawn on his face.<br /><br />When it comes to poor old baseball cards this one checks all the boxes except for ripped in two.<br /><br />For all it's flaws, I love it. How can you not love Warren Spahn?pobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207611864848449628.post-72575690990445559132014-10-27T19:00:00.001-07:002014-10-27T19:02:57.926-07:001934 Goudey Frankie Frisch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4g31yU9HAwc/VE75MFGJOTI/AAAAAAAACzY/S3fL7c8ofOc/s1600/34frisch.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4g31yU9HAwc/VE75MFGJOTI/AAAAAAAACzY/S3fL7c8ofOc/s1600/34frisch.png" height="400" width="325" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I once had a colleague propose that baseball's Hall-of-Fame should be limited to a certain number of members. An interesting argument.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In other words, if a new player is deserving, an older player must be removed. Top 100 players only.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Frankie Frisch would not approve. Some say it's his fault the Hall has so many mediocre players.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As a member of the Veteran's Committee, Frisch is said to have used his influence to usher in what some consider the Hall's least-deserving members.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My thought is this: Either you're a Hall-of-Famer or not. If you need to make an argument for a player's inclusion, maybe he's not deserving. A Hall-of-Famer should be automatic, you should't need to think long about whether they're worthy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Rickey Henderson: No argument.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Derek Jeter: No argument.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lee Smith: No dice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Is baseball's Hall-of-Fame oversubscribed?</div><br />pobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207611864848449628.post-23380788170148081492014-10-25T11:21:00.000-07:002014-10-26T22:26:53.330-07:001962 Topps Roger Maris<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BF39mNS0rAc/VEy3-RiSc7I/AAAAAAAACt4/31a2E7BIzd8/s1600/62maris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BF39mNS0rAc/VEy3-RiSc7I/AAAAAAAACt4/31a2E7BIzd8/s1600/62maris.jpg" height="320" width="232" /></a></div>I've been waiting for this card for a while. As a collector of poor old baseball cards, I've been looking for that perfect 1962 Roger Maris.<br /><br />And by perfect, I mean perfectly poor.<br /><br />As I've mentioned before, I rarely purchase any baseball card that is <i>not</i> in poor condition. I can't justify spending big bucks for a card I can get for a fraction of the price.<br /><br />Plus, I like my cards to tell a story. And this card's story probably includes the back of someone's jeans pocket.<br /><br />As the new single-season home run king, Maris was on top of the baseball world in 1962 and must have been one of the most desirable cards of that year's set. That, along with the fact it's card No. 1, means condition will always be a concern.<br /><br />I can just imagine unwrapping this gem in the summer of '62. I'm sure it's new owner couldn't help sharing it with friends, keeping it in his back pocket for safekeeping.<br /><br />Come to think of it, that's where I kept it when it arrived a few days ago – in my back pocket (in it's rigid sleeve) ready to show the world my latest find.pobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207611864848449628.post-10581767635495417382014-10-21T22:46:00.002-07:002014-10-21T22:46:50.112-07:001948-50 Japanese Menko Tadayoshi Kajioka <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xpJ9GhYsmfo/VEdA7CnM5pI/AAAAAAAACr0/H6tKvrXwUek/s1600/TadayoshiKajioka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xpJ9GhYsmfo/VEdA7CnM5pI/AAAAAAAACr0/H6tKvrXwUek/s1600/TadayoshiKajioka.jpg" height="390" width="400" /></a></div>This arrived today.<br /><br />A month after a winning bid on eBay, my first Japanese baseball card arrived from half-way around the world.<br /><br />The listing said it's of Tadayoshi Kajioka, a pitcher who would win 131 games in the Japanese league.<br /><br />Is it really Kajioka? I have no way of knowing.<br /><br />Does anyone out there read Japanese? I'd love to know what the card says.<br /><br />Regardless, it's a valued addition to my poor old baseball card collection.pobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207611864848449628.post-40834831142464211102014-10-17T23:20:00.000-07:002014-10-17T23:20:05.931-07:001919 W514 Pickles Dilhoefer (graded)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ylcldaTSS0A/VEIFN1dzeBI/AAAAAAAACrk/OycHjMyz180/s1600/pickles.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ylcldaTSS0A/VEIFN1dzeBI/AAAAAAAACrk/OycHjMyz180/s1600/pickles.JPG" height="400" width="238" /></a>As a matter of principle, I don't usually buy graded cards. <br /><br />You might say I'm downright opposed to encasing these poor old baseball cards in plastic.<br /><br />But this card is different.<br /><br />As a kid, before the Internet, I used to buy most of my cards from a dealer in Northern California. He would send me a list of cards he had available and every few weeks I'd place my order.<br /><br />Then, like now, I gravitated to the older cards — T206's and strip cards made up the bulk of what I collected.<br /><br />Back then, HOF strip cards would run about $10 or so. Bigger names like Ty Cobb would be more. Commons would be available for about $3-$5.<br /><br />Except Pickles Dilhoefer. Pickles would always be listed at HOF prices. I couldn't justify spending that kind of money for a ballplayer who's only claim to fame was being part of a trade involving Grover Cleveland Alexander.<br /><br />Thirty years later, I want Pickles Dilhoefer.<br /><br />While it's never about the money, my purchase of these poor old cards are in a sense an investment. I always try to pay what I think the card is worth, never more.<br /><br />But when it came to Pickles, my sense of 'want' overtook my sense of 'worth.' This card cost me $27. Is it worth it? I'm not sure.<br /><br />But it doesn't matter. I am the proud owner of my very own Pickles Dilhoefer.pobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207611864848449628.post-70958405959355733682014-10-13T11:27:00.000-07:002014-10-26T01:44:57.408-07:001962 Post (Life Magazine) Mickey Mantle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ar92gue97Ik/VDwUfprLsEI/AAAAAAAACrI/60QvmZivF-c/s1600/mantle62p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ar92gue97Ik/VDwUfprLsEI/AAAAAAAACrI/60QvmZivF-c/s1600/mantle62p.jpg" height="155" width="400" /></a></div>On the surface, this card appears to be a 1962 Post Cereal card, taken right off the back of the box. But a few clues tell otherwise. The most notable being the advertising on the back. <br /><br />Post inserted two cards in issues of the April 13, 1962 Life Magazine. It was part of an ad linking Post Cereal and subscriptions to Life Magazine.<br /><br />Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, coming off their battle for the single-season HR record, were promoted heavily and the only two players to appear in the advertisement. The perforated edges and lack of blue lines separating the stats provide us with other clues that this card is not a cereal box card.<br /><br />Sometime during this card's life, Mantle was ripped in two. Was it done when separating the card from the ad? Was is done in later years? Who knows?<br /><br />What I can tell you is it wasn't done recently. That transparent tape is brittle and old.<br /><br />If only baseball cards could talk.pobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207611864848449628.post-74812216994719558692014-10-11T09:53:00.001-07:002014-10-11T09:55:17.121-07:001934 Goudey Gerald Walker<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zHN1echAp20/VDlac7QbXrI/AAAAAAAACq4/PVPiYYKk8vA/s1600/Scan-141011-0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zHN1echAp20/VDlac7QbXrI/AAAAAAAACq4/PVPiYYKk8vA/s1600/Scan-141011-0001.jpg" height="320" width="266" /></a></div>Gerald Walker is no Joe DiMaggio.<br /><br />Walker, more commonly known as Gee Walker, was a pretty good player. He was named an All Star in 1937, beginning that season (on Opening Day) with an "unnatural cycle" (a cycle in reverse order: HR, 3B, 2B, 1B).<br /><br />He had a good career.<br /><br />So who would scratch out Walker's name in 1934, replacing it with a not-yet-Major Leaguer named DiMaggio?<br /><br />My guess is this creative drawing was done a few years later. DiMaggio was in the Pacific Coast League in 1934, an outfielder with the San Francisco Seals. He would not make his Yankees debut until 1936.<br /><br />Was DiMaggio even on the baseball world's radar in 1934? Maybe he was. In 1933, DiMaggio hit .340 and was undoubtedly in the news for his 61-game hitting streak. Between May 28 and July 25, he hit .405 (104-for-257).<br /><br />I'm sure that opened a few eyes.<br /><br />Maybe even for a young baseball collector hoping to have the next up-and-coming star. You think?pobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207611864848449628.post-17100874970781586412014-10-10T17:02:00.000-07:002014-10-10T17:03:59.941-07:001965 Topps Bob Clemente<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UtEAhyT8M4Y/VDhquF5u1OI/AAAAAAAACqo/247ZGrIxqzo/s1600/Scan-141010-0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UtEAhyT8M4Y/VDhquF5u1OI/AAAAAAAACqo/247ZGrIxqzo/s1600/Scan-141010-0003.jpg" height="320" width="232" /></a></div>I've been on a break from Poor Old baseball Cards lately. But today, this came in the mail and I knew I needed to share.<br /><br />A few days ago, I took a chance. I offered $7 for this beauty on eBay. It had a Buy it Now price of $15. I expected to be counteroffered.<br /><br />I wasn't and the card was mine for $7. What a bargain.<br /><br />Clemente was coming off his second batting title in 1964. He would win the title four times (1961, '64, '65 and '67). <br /><br />He ended his career with 3,000 hits. Who knows how many more were in his bat before dying in a plane crash carrying relief supplies to Nicaraguan earthquake victims.<br /><br />While it's a beaut, there's one thing that bothers me about this card. "Bob."<br /><br />His name is Roberto and he wanted to be known as such. I wonder why baseball card companies felt the need to Americanize his name?&nbsp; <br /><br />A snippet from Encyclopedia Britannica online:<br /><a href="http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/121138/Roberto-Clemente">http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/121138/Roberto-Clemente</a><br /><br /><i>While Clemente amassed a mountain of impressive statistics during his career, he was often mocked by the print media in the United States for his heavy Spanish accent. Clemente was also subjected to the double discrimination of being a foreigner and being black in a racially segregated society. Although the media tried to call him “Bob” or “Bobby” and many of his baseball cards use “Bob,” Clemente explicitly rejected those nicknames, stating in no uncertain terms that his name was Roberto. There was also confusion over the correct form of his surname. For 27 years the plaque at the National <a href="http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/54776/Baseball-Hall-of-Fame">Baseball Hall of Fame</a> read “Roberto Walker Clemente,” mistakenly placing his mother’s maiden name before his father’s surname. Only in 2000 was it changed to its proper Latin American form, Roberto Clemente Walker.</i><br /><br />pobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207611864848449628.post-83806911472519574292014-07-12T00:22:00.001-07:002014-07-12T00:22:18.056-07:001962 Topps All-Star Willie Mays<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3HH7N76lFZg/U8DaEv7Yz7I/AAAAAAAACqI/lb_b_njQQjo/s1600/1962willieAS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3HH7N76lFZg/U8DaEv7Yz7I/AAAAAAAACqI/lb_b_njQQjo/s1600/1962willieAS.jpg" height="320" width="226" /></a></div>It must have been 1982 or so and I was earning about $20 every Saturday helping my uncle put newspapers in racks around town. One day after completing the route, we stopped by a local baseball card shop.<br /><br />If my memory serves me, baseball card shops were starting to spring up about then. A few years later, there would be hundreds to choose from.<br /><br />As I made my way throught the shop, I felt like a kid in a candy store. I know that phrase is overused but that's the best way I can describe the feeling I had as I saw shelf after shelf of vintage cards in cases.<br /><br />The pricetags were scarry for a 13-year-old. Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Earnie Banks, Willie Mays. Superstar cards selling for $20-30 each!<br /><br />How could I justify spending my entire earnings on a single card? What would my mom say if I told her I spent it all on a baseball card?<br /><br />Instead, I gravitated to a binder marked 25 cents. Looking through, I found my first poor old baseball cards. Warren Spahn, Bob Lemon, Ed Mathews, Luis Aparicio, Early Wynn, Al Kaline, Juan Marichal and this Willie Mays. All cards from the late 1950s into the 60s.<br /><br />I was thrilled. I must have spent $3-$4. Each card went into my binder.<br /><br />It was in that same shop that I bought my first Bowman, a 1955 Art Ditmar. Later I learned about Goudey and bought a 1933 Phil Collins. And then I saved up for my first T206, a George McQuillan.<br /><br />I remember, for some reason, really wanting a 1933 Goudey Frankie Frisch. I must have called that shop every day for months asking the owner it's price. It was always too much.<br /><br />A week ago I got a 1934 Goudey Frankie Frisch. I'm still waiting for that 1933.<br /><br />pobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207611864848449628.post-90498782650346518642014-07-11T11:51:00.001-07:002014-07-11T11:52:33.961-07:001949 Bowman Willie 'Puddin-Head' Jones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wi_RbjAN6bM/U8AueAICuUI/AAAAAAAACp4/CnyeApvHh8A/s1600/puddin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wi_RbjAN6bM/U8AueAICuUI/AAAAAAAACp4/CnyeApvHh8A/s1600/puddin.jpg" height="238" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>It's one thing to have a pejorative nickname, it's another to have it printed on the back of your baseball card. At least I assume it's degrading, right?<br /><br />When trying to find the meaning of 'Puddin-Head' I got several explanations.<br /><br />One refers to the fact that Willie Jones wasn't the brightest bulb in the box. Another attributes it to a popular song of the 1930s. A third says Jones was hit in the head, not ducking while sliding into second base. A fourth says he actually liked to eat pudding.<br /><br />So which was it? Anyone out there know?<br /><br />Jones himself was a pretty good third baseman and two-time All-Star. He was an important part of the 1950 Whiz Kids team. And he had a unique nickname.pobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207611864848449628.post-3552614432151237952014-07-09T23:18:00.000-07:002014-10-26T01:33:05.076-07:001955 Bowman Allie Reynolds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eAPRSnJJE8w/U74n8HiEnlI/AAAAAAAACpc/tUSdq9Vy8LA/s1600/55bowmanreynolds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eAPRSnJJE8w/U74n8HiEnlI/AAAAAAAACpc/tUSdq9Vy8LA/s1600/55bowmanreynolds.jpg" height="223" width="320" /></a></div><br />Today I learned that Allie Reynolds was part of the Creek Nation. And as a Native American ballplayer, he was nicknamed Superchief.<br /><br />In baseball's days past, most Native American players were nicknamed Chief: Chief Bender, Chief Meyers. <br /><br />Slow farmboys were called Rube: Rube Marquard, Rube Waddell.<br /><br />Deaf players were called Dummy: Dummy Hoy. Dummy Taylor.<br /><br />Today, these nicknames would not be tolerated. Reynolds played at least 40 years after the other players mentioned. I've never heard of anyone calling him Superchief. He's always been known as Allie as far as I knew.<br /><br />But that's not the case for the others. I would have to think hard to tell you Chief Bender's real first name is Charles. And did you know Marquard's real name is Richard and Hoy's is William?<br /><br />Reynolds was actually a pretty good pitcher for some pretty good teams.<br /><br />He threw two no-hitters in one year, was named to six All-Star games and won 6 world championships as a member of the New York Yankees.<br /><br />Many consider him a borderline Hall-of Famer. More than just a nickname.pobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207611864848449628.post-31954442998477837792014-07-08T23:21:00.000-07:002014-07-08T23:22:04.150-07:001968 Topps Harmon Killebrew<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-98bJsRMzNUw/U7zYthko1kI/AAAAAAAACoY/ATfpJxmrgRc/s1600/68killebrew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-98bJsRMzNUw/U7zYthko1kI/AAAAAAAACoY/ATfpJxmrgRc/s1600/68killebrew.jpg" height="320" width="225" /></a></div>Do yourself a favor.<br /><br />After reading this post, log onto eBay and type in "1968 Topps Harmon Killebrew." Buy it.<br /><br />One in this condition should cost you about $2. One in much better condition about $5.<br /><br />Take the card, admire it for a few days and then give it to a kid. It doesn't matter if it's a son or grandson, daugher or granddaughter, nephew or niece.<br /><br />Explain that Harmon Killebrew was one heck of a ballplayer and one of the game's good guys.<br /><br />Tell them of his 573 home runs, his 13 All-Star appearances and his 1969 MVP season. <br /><br />Tell them about the time he hit a ball 520-feet in Minnesota or the time he hit a ball over the left field roof at Detroit's Tiger Stadium. Tell them how he was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1984.<br /><br />And make sure to tell them about his character. That he was a nice guy. That he played fair and with humility.pobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207611864848449628.post-66872054351504654132014-07-08T00:06:00.001-07:002014-07-08T00:07:14.187-07:001949 Remar Baking Charles Dressen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oHI0sMSJAPg/U7uUk0mKtKI/AAAAAAAACoI/2q58NsjWraQ/s1600/49dressen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oHI0sMSJAPg/U7uUk0mKtKI/AAAAAAAACoI/2q58NsjWraQ/s1600/49dressen.jpg" height="232" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>I had never seen one of these cards before this one arrived a few weeks back.<br /><br />The 32-card set was exclusively comprised of members of the Pacific Coast League's Oakland Oaks. And while Charlie Dressen would make a name for himself as manager of Brooklyn's Boys of Summer from 1951-53, the best know acorn on the team was a young infielder named Billy Martin.<br /><br />Only available in the Bay Area, this is a fairly rare set but not a particularly&nbsp; expensive one. Distributed in loaves of Remar bread, samples can be found for under $10.<br /><br />What a treat to go along with that peanut butter and jelly sandwich. pobchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12173844298713805508noreply@blogger.com0